Important Update From the Founder
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EWS Best of Bolgheri (blind tasting)
New York Vintners
Tasted April 21, 2014 by Rollerball with 610 views
Introduction
Howard and Bob arranged a wonderful, knowledgeable event with attentive tasters, real opinions, and fun debate.
One issue was their having no creative backup plan in the event of flawed wines. And 2 of 15 wines were flawed. Since it'd be too expensive to have a backup for every bottle, we suggested having one or more alternate bottles to mitigate disappointment.
Flight 1 - Level-setting across a range of vintages and blends (5 notes)
Red
2011 Michele Satta Bolgheri Rosso
88 points
Juicy and pleasurable but a little clumsy in its ripeness which finishes a little rotten.
White
2011 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Sauvignon Blanc Poggio alle Gazze Toscana IGT
92 points
Nice herbal nose;
Great balance of creamy viscosity and grapefruit back bone with pleasurable tail of sweet oak, melon.
Great balance of creamy viscosity and grapefruit back bone with pleasurable tail of sweet oak, melon.
Red
1997 Castello del Terriccio Lupicaia
93 points
A little bricking. Spicy cherry; inhale the aged nuances; reticent animal nose; lots of nice drive though the fruit itself has faded some.
Bolstered by a comforting saline symphony on the finish, echoing sweet and bitter.
Bolstered by a comforting saline symphony on the finish, echoing sweet and bitter.
Red
2003 Ca' Marcanda (Gaja) Bolgheri Camarcanda
93 points
Coffee nose and charcoal with sweet ripe cherry and tobacco; merlot really shines nice energy; a little astringent on the clipped tail as sunshine peaks through clouds.
Red
2004 Michele Satta Bolgheri Superiore I Castagni
92 points
Fascinating suave and aggressive nose! Feels soft and cushy until the teroldego comes in and lifts the oakey tail.
Flight 2 - Beautiful <$100s (3 notes)
Red
2008 Tenuta di Biserno Il Pino di Biserno
90 points
Explosive nose with great nuance but sharp and jagged with bitter pomegranate and espresso.
Very ripe finish. Try in 2018.
Very ripe finish. Try in 2018.
Red
2009 Grattamacco Bolgheri Superiore
94 points
Open for hours and already gentler and more inviting; blue ink. Take California and add Sangiovese. Nicely ripe. Love the precise finish--right down the middle--that just doesn't sway from its intent.
Red
2009 Tenuta Guado al Tasso (Antinori) Bolgheri Superiore
94 points
No complaints, complexity but buried. Very creamy in its pleasurably oakey finish.
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Flight 3 - The Classics (3 notes)
Red
2009 Le Macchiole Paleo Rosso
95 points
High-toned boozy nose has amplitude but without much character. Then thrilling, pure, and sophisticated with hints of maraschino. Tastes more Bordeaux than Italian. Perfect persistence and wow what a solid finish, endless, perfect; bursts of sweet fruit. One of the best pure cab franc's I've had.
Red
2009 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia
93 points
Dark fruit and salinity in the rose dust nose. Darker, dense, powerful, masculine, and strong. Thick like finger paint but absolutely delicious.
Red
2010 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia
95 points
Elusive nose-- chasing it wherever it ran: salt, brown sugar. Heavenly weight floral levitates. Strong berries truly delightful.
Flight 4 - Magical Merlots (4 notes)
Red
2007 Tua Rita Redigaffi Toscana IGT
93 points
Fascinating, hauntingly beautiful nose. Homemade little black cherries and licorice.
Red
2008 Petra Quercegobbe Toscana IGT
flawed
CORKED $%@$#*!!
Really could see underneath how amazing this could have been.
Really could see underneath how amazing this could have been.
Red
2010 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Masseto Toscana IGT
96 points
Gorgeous nose came in and out as different characters and faded over time. A complex package; a moving gift of a wine. Balanced, complete, incredible.